Episodes

  • Ep 67 - Are SAFEs Really Safe? A Primer on Startup Funding and Valuation, With Eva Doss

    Ep 67 - Are SAFEs Really Safe? A Primer on Startup Funding and Valuation, With Eva Doss
    Feb 16 2025
    In this episode of Invisible Ink, Eva Doss, president and CEO of The LaunchPlace, discusses her work in venture development, managing a portfolio of 27 startups, and supporting early-stage companies through every part of their startup journey.

    Listen to Eva's experiences as she shares her journey in building The LaunchPlace, including her insights on:
    1. Why your cap table is the linchpin in your fundraising story
    2. How to stay on top of your cap table as an early stage founder
    3. How to use cap tables strategically to manage financing, ownership, and regulatory compliance.
    4. How startup valuation approaches differ by type of investor
    5. How to support your valuation estimate when you don't yet have a track record
    6. Why a high valuation isn't always a good thing
    7. The lowdown on SAFEs - what are they, really?
    8. Cap table implications of SAFEs and convertible notes
    9. The practical tradeoffs of raising ona a SAFE
    10. The soft factors that impact your fundraising vehicle
    11. Practical insights on how to build positive investor relationships
    and much more!
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 6 mins
  • EP 66 - The Founder’s Guide to Convertible Notes, With Liz Sigety

    EP 66 - The Founder’s Guide to Convertible Notes, With Liz Sigety
    Feb 2 2025
    In this episode, Liz Sigety, chair of Fox Rothschild's Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice, shares her expertise in working with startups, her role as a co-founder of the Delaware Crossing Investor Group, and her extensive experience as an angel investor.

    Tune in to hear Liz's thoughts on funding mechanisms for early-stage companies, how to pick the right funding vehicle, the differences between SAFEs and convertible notes, and what founderss should think about in selecting the right one for their raise.

    Get a deep dive on the Angel Capital Association's new Model Convertible Note straight from the source! Liz headed the team at the ACA that worked to develop and publish this comprehensive new template!

    Hear Liz's thoughts on:
    1. The critical factors that drive your choice of funding vehicle
    2. Primary differences between SAFEs and convertible notes
    3. How legal fees impact your choice of funding vehicle, and what ti keep in mind
    4. The little known tax issue that can make or break your deal for investors
    5. Why tax matters for you as a founder, and how ti minimize your tax risk
    6. How the ACA's new model convertible note changes the game for founders and investors
    7. The make or break features of your convertible note: discounts, valuation caps and maturity
    8. The "iceberg" factors of convertible notes: early sale, board representation, information rights and more
    9. How to put together a foolproof term sheet as a first time founder
    10. Insider tips for women founders in STEM from an experienced angel and attorney
    and much more.

    Only on Invisible Ink!
    Show more Show less
    52 mins
  • Ep 65 - Unlocking Funding With Financial Acumen, With Vicki Knott

    Ep 65 - Unlocking Funding With Financial Acumen, With Vicki Knott
    Jan 19 2025
    In this conversation, Vicki Knott, CEO of Crux OCM, shares her entrepreneurial journey from oil and gas to starting her own company. Vicki describes her background and how she met her co-founder, Roger Shirt, and how they developed the idea for Crux OCM.

    Tune in to listen to her facscinating journey as she shares her thoughts on:
    1. The power of cross-pollinating ideas - origin story of an innovative startup
    2. The difference between working and selling in the same industry - powerful founder lessons
    3. First steps - why accelerators matter in your startup journey
    4. How to select the right accelerator program for your deep-tech startup
    5. Why location matters - and how to make a smart location decision
    6. The surprising power of financial acumen - from fundraising to selling
    7. How to build financial acumen one day, one step at a time
    8. How to navigate the challenges of selling complex software solutions to large, traditional industries.
    9. Valuable do's and don'ts in the journey to financial fluency
    10. How to build confidence and overcome imposter syndrome as a female founder in a male-dominated field.
    and much more!
    Show more Show less
    44 mins
  • Ep 64 - Charging Ahead! Unexpected Paths to Market Success, With Kameale C. Terry

    Ep 64 - Charging Ahead! Unexpected Paths to Market Success, With Kameale C. Terry
    Jan 5 2025
    Join us for a fascinating conversation with Kameale C. Terry, Co-founder and CEO of ChargerHelp! In this conversation, Kameale shares her entrepreneurial journey in the electric vehicle (EV) charging sector, detailing her transition from supporting EV drivers to founding her own company focused on enhancing charging reliability. Tune in to find out:
    1. How to transform life circumstances into entrepreneurial opportunity
    2. The single biggest secret to sustainable startup success
    3. How to leverage problem mastery to gain investor credibility
    4. How to play the fundraising game like a chess pro
    5. The oath to financial fluency, why it matters, and how to get it
    6. The ins and outs of raising a priced round
    7. How to find great legal counsel before you have funding
    8. What Henry Ford can teach you about go-to-market success
    9. How to make smart bets when the stakes are high
    10. The last word: how to stay in the game for the long haul
    and much more!
    Show more Show less
    1 hr
  • Ep 63 - Made for Medtech: The Essential Fundraising Guide, With Tasneem Dohadwala

    Ep 63 - Made for Medtech: The Essential Fundraising Guide, With Tasneem Dohadwala
    Dec 8 2024
    In this episode, Tasneem Dohadwala, a venture capitalist in early-stage medical device investment, shares her insights on navigating the venture capital landscape and the unique challenges within the medical devices space.

    Check out this information-packed conversation to learn more about:
    1. The categories of med-tech ventures, and how they differ
    2. Why large markets have outsize importance in med-tech relative to other verticals
    3. What factors drive fundability in med-tech, and why it's so challenging to build successful ventures in med-tech
    4. Not all med-tech is made equal - categories within med-tech
    5. How AI will change the game in therapeutics
    6. How to tell if your med-tech startup has what it takes to be funded
    7. How the regulatory and reimbursement pathways make or break your startup's success
    8. How to be a CEO investors want to bet on
    9. What to watch for as a woman founder in med-tech
    and much more!
    Show more Show less
    44 mins
  • Ep 62 - Fundraising Is a Marketing Game, and Other Non-obvious Insights, with Brianna McDonald

    Ep 62 - Fundraising Is a Marketing Game, and Other Non-obvious Insights, with Brianna McDonald
    Nov 24 2024
    In this episode, Brianna McDonald, an experienced early-stage investor, shares key insights from her two-decade journey in the startup world, emphasizing the significance of a well-crafted capitalization strategy for founders. Brianna discusses the importance of not falling in love with the product alone, instead focusing on the executive team's execution and the market potential.

    She highlights the misconceptions around fundraising, urging founders to view it as selling pieces of their companies, and stresses the necessity of understanding cap table management from day one.

    She also covers the current challenges in the investing landscape, the impact of economic shifts on startup funding, and the critical need for thorough market research and relationship building with potential investors.

    Key takeaways from the episode include:
    • Why capitalization strategy matters for founders more than ever in the post Silicon Valley Bank era
    • How to use market research to create credible go-to-market strategies and believable financial projections
    • How to cultivate genuine relationships with investors for successful fundraising and support
    • Why managing and understanding the cap table from day one is key to minimizing dilution and maintaining control
    • What to watch out for before raising on "cheap" vehicles like SAFE notes
    • How to target the right investors based on your company’s growth trajectory.
    • Why the math matters - on your cap table, your valuation and your deal, and how it can make or break your company
    • How to build a solid plan for your startup so your company, your investors and you come out ahead
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 1 min
  • Ep 61 - Winning With Markets & Investors - The Founder's Playbook, With Colette Courtion

    Ep 61 - Winning With Markets & Investors - The Founder's Playbook, With Colette Courtion
    Nov 10 2024
    Named one of Inc. Magazines Top 100 Female Founders of 2020, Colette Courtion is a distinguished and award-winning consumer marketer, inventor (24 issued patents), and business leader steeped in brand building, marketing, strategic planning, and finance with leading consumer product, retail, and medical device companies.

    She is the founder of Joylux, the leading menopausal intimate health company with Halle Berry, the acclaimed actress and menopause advocate, as an investor, brand ambassador and co-developer of products.Prior to founding Joylux, she founded and lead two other VC-backed aesthetic companies. She was also a marketing executive with Starbucks responsible for launching and growing the Starbucks Card and Customer loyalty program into a multi-billion-dollar business.

    In this episode, Colette shares the good, the bad and the shocking on her founder journey. Tune in to hear more about:
    1. The origin story of a pathbreaking startup
    2. How to validate the market opportunity when it's never existed before
    3. How to break old barriers and blaze new trails - the founder's way
    4. The quick primer on FDA approvals, and the role of luck and ingenuity
    5. When life hands you a pandemic, turn it into profits
    6. How to think strategically about your IP strategy
    7. How to sell your startup to investors when they don't want to hear about the problem, and still win!
    8. How to keep investors happy without losing your mind
    9. How to hitch your wagon to a star

    and much more!
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Best of Invisible Ink Season 6! Highlights & Best Moments

    Best of Invisible Ink Season 6! Highlights & Best Moments
    Oct 27 2024
    Welcome to the Best of Season 6! In this special episode, we've put together the very best clips from all of our incredible guests for your listening pleasure. Check out the time stamps below to find your favorite clips or do yourself a favor and listen to the whole roll!

    00:00:00 - Welcome & Introduction
    00:00:09 - Gender Bias in Negotiation Techniques | Angela Lee
    00:00:32 - Handling Perceptions of Aggressiveness | Angela Lee
    00:01:52 - Balancing Strength and Warmth | Angela Lee
    00:02:42 - Building Economic Case for Women Founders | Angela Lee
    00:03:04 - Valuation Tips for Women Founders
    00:05:13 - Importance of Conviction in Investor Pitches | Marcia Dawood
    00:07:05 - Value of Customer Discovery | Marcia Dawood
    00:08:05 - Navigating Co-Founder Challenges | Marcia Dawood
    00:12:21 - From Technical Expert to Business Lead | Jen Baird
    00:16:17 - Strengthening the Financial Model | Jen Baird
    00:17:44 - Advice for First-Time Fundraisers | Jen Baird
    00:19:14 - Differences Between Angels & VCs | Elaine Bolle
    00:23:08 - Strategies for Valuation & Fundraising | Elaine Bolle
    00:27:00 - Common Business Model Pitfalls | Gwen Edwards
    00:29:30 - Scaling & Growth Essentials | Gwen Edwards
    00:32:38 - Managing Cap Tables Effectively | Gwen Edwards
    00:41:40 - Financial Education for Founders | Kerry Rupp
    00:42:45 - Understanding Investor Timelines | Kerry Rupp
    00:43:24 - Building Toward Acquisition Goals | Kerry Rupp
    00:45:11 - Importance of Legal Structures in Startups | Madhu Singh
    00:47:22 - Equity Vesting & Founder Commitment | Madhu Singh
    00:48:39 - Setting up an Option Pool & Incentives | Madhu Singh
    01:00:47 - Raising Capital Efficiently | Charu Ramanathan
    01:02:43 - Overcoming Gender Bias and Seeking Help | Charu Ramanathan
    01:04:12 - Mentorship & Resilience for Female Founders | Charu Ramanathan
    01:04:25 - Lessons from the Entrepreneurial Journey | Vinita Gupta
    01:04:51 - Embracing the Owner’s Mindset | Vinita Gupta
    01:05:42 - Balancing Risks and Rewards | Vinita Gupta
    01:12:35 - Navigating Career Choices with Intuition | Lynda Weinman
    01:13:43 - Evolution of an Internet-Based Business | Lynda Weinman
    Show more Show less
    1 hr and 21 mins